R. L. Gauntt Died this Morning Had been connected with business interests for past thirty years                           __________   R. L. Gauntt, one of the leading business men of the city died suddenly at his home at four 0'clock this morning. Pernicious malaria was attributed as the cause of his death. Mr. Gauntt had been confined to his home the past twow weeks , but Tuesday morning was able to come to town for a short time . Aabout 11 )'clock Tuesday, he had a chill and returned to his home. It was first thought to be an ordinary chill, but later developed that he suffered a conjestive chill. He had another chill at eleven o'clock Tuesday night and from then until four o'clock his conditioned grew worse.   Funeral services will be held from the First Baptist Church  tomorrow(Thursday) morning at eleven o,clock conducted by the pastor, Rev. M.L. Fuller.   R. L. Gauntt, or , "General",as he was  better known to his acquaintances was born at what is known as New York community June 13 1862.  As in  the case of most other deaths occurring this year, he died within a few days of his birthday. He was the son of John and Martha Owen Gauntt who came to Texas to Texas in 1851 from the state of Georgia.  Mr. Gauntt ws educated in the public schoold of New York and Myrtle Springs and gew to manhood at New York. on reaching his majority , he and his brothre moved to Athens and conducted a business under the name of Gauntt Bros, handling a general line of merchandise. Later the brother dropped out of the firum and business has been conducted a number of years under the name of R.L.Gauntt and the business was owned by he and his sons.    On June 13 , his birthday, 1882, Mr. Gauntt married to Misss Tommie Broughton of Tyler, Texas.  To  this union six children were born , all of whom are living. They are Broughton, Douglas and Milton, Miss Mary Lee, Mrs. C.E. Antle (Martha Owen) and Miss Salena. In addition to his wife , he is survived by four brothers, J.R. , W.M., J.B. and Dee Gauntt and two sisters, Mrs. tom Bell of tyler and Mrs. Roxie Mackey of LaRue.      Note: Actually, the Owens came from Alabama, and it is thought they did come together. John W. Gauntt had a cousin living in Randolph Co , the same place that the Owens were in 1850 census.   Submitted by Mary Lee Barnes , granddaughter. . http://members.tripod.com/~MearsM2/index.html For more on Gauntt and related families.

John Washington Gauntt Obituary born 12-12-1829; Died 1-18-1912

The subject of this sketch was born in Newberry District, South Carolina, December 12, 1829. His parents , Luke and Elizabeth Gauntt , removed to Georgia while he was quite young. He was raised near Rome, Ga. When he twenty-one years old, he with his parnets, removed to Texas and settled in Henderson County near the old town of Fincastle in the year 1852. In 1854, he married Miss Martha M. Owen , a daughter of Samuel Truss (sic)(should be Tine) Owen, and sister of Judge D.A.Owen.

Among the hills four miles west of Fincastle they built themselves a small log cabin and moved into it; The remained at this place the remainder of their lives. His wife died February 161880, nearly thirty-two ago. After his wife’s death he continued to live at the old homestead until called home by the angel of death, having lived fifty-seven years in one place.

He and wife reared a family of nine children : five sons, J.B., W.M. , J.R. R.L. and D.T., all of whom are living , and four daughters, Sallie Elizabeth, Roxy , Eula and Mattie, two of whom still live, and two are deceased. Sallie who married Dr. Mackie who now resides at Golinda, Texas, and Eula who married Judge W.F. Freeman who now resides at Ardmore, Okla.

Mr. Gauntt served four years in the Confederate army. He volunteered and out in Capt. Jerry Warren’s company. He was in General Steel’s brigade and saw service in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Indian Territory.

About the close of the war his command was ordered to the coast of Texas. On the 24 day of May 1864, by order of Major General McGruder, he was honorably discharged and came home and took up his calling of farming as he was able to follow the plow.

He lived an honorable and upright life. He loved is home and never neglected his business. He did unto otheres as he wished to do unto him . He joined the Christian church and was a consistent and exemplary of it for 35 0r 40 years. He was devoted husband a generous and loving father and ever ready to give good and wholesome advice.

The sober , steady , upright lives and character of his children certify to his worth as a citizen and to his consistent life as a father and a Christian.

The editor of the Review frequently met Mr Gauntt and always enjoyed his conversation.

The Review tenders its sympathy to the bereaved.

---

Note: The editor of the Review at that time was William Dixon Smith , husband of the sister of Mrs. R.L. Gauntt . (Salena Broughton and Margaret Tomie Broughton)

In a related story; J.B.(Bass) Gauntt tells in his autobiography: " In 1865 , I was 10 years old. Just at the close of the war , father was on his way from Navasota, Texas where he had been discharged from four years service in the so called Civil War. Mother sent me on an old horse were called "Old Pone" . One or two other boys was along to meet Uncle Bill Gauntt and other southerners coming home. We meet them about half way between where we lived. (the old Homeplace at Myrtle Spring) and Palestine. Father was driving a four mule government team. There were a big bunch of soldiers along after we met them. We turned back some seven or eight miles and stopped for dinner with an old gentlemen by the name of Noble Johnson. There father left the wagon and team and we came home on "Old Pone" Legend in the family had it that he walked to meet his father.

Submitted by Mary Lee Anderson Barnes, great granddaughter. mearsm2@earthlink.net